Top 10 Greatest Single Game Team Performances In Sports History

#10: The Flu Game

If you think something as trivial as feeling under the weather is going to keep the G.O.A.T. Michael Jordan down, think again. Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals saw the Bulls come up against the mighty Utah Jazz. After sharing two games apiece in their first four meetings of the series, Game 5 represented a crucial chance for one team to break away. Unfortunately, Jordan came down with what was described as flu like symptoms just before the game. However, his indomitable will completely took over, causing him to fight his way through those four quarters. When the dust had settled, Jordan had given the game his everything… and he had scored 38 points to seal a crucial win. An awe-inspiring performance.

#9: Nuggets Deliver Historic Playoff Domination

When a team performs so badly that it basically ruins our perception of the matchup itself, that’s a real disparity in quality. To say that the New Orleans Hornets imploded in Game 4 of their 2009 playoffs showdown with the Denver Nuggets would be putting it lightly. For as bad as they were, though, credit has to be given to the offensive brilliance of Denver - who managed to beat 121-63. That’s a staggering margin of 58 points, which, at the time, tied the largest blowout in the history of the NBA playoffs.

#8: Team USA Sets Olympic Basketball Standard

It’s no secret that the USA is the most dominant force in world basketball. The NBA is the pinnacle of the sport and the home for the majority of its best players. So when the US came up against Nigeria in the group stages of the 2012 Olympics, they delivered what can only be described as the quintessential blowout. The difference in quality was clear from the get-go, but Team USA wanted to go out there and make a statement. Carmelo Anthony, in particular, was absolutely electric - posting 37 points to lead his side to a 156-73 victory. That’s a margin of 83 points, a frankly ridiculous record to achieve.

#7: Brazil’s 1970 Masterpiece vs Italy

When your team consists of legends like Pelé, Carlos Alberto, and Jairzinho, they’re going to be pretty hard to stop. However, in their 1970 World Cup final showdown with Italy, they produced probably the single greatest team performance in football history up to that point in time. This was a side that performed with a level of elegance that had never been seen before in the beautiful game. Alberto’s famous goal from this match illustrated that point perfectly. In the end, they hammered the Italian’s 4-1, taking home the World Cup trophy with a display of footballing prowess never seen before.

#6: All Blacks Deliver Rugby World Cup Landmark

In the 1995 World Cup, the All Blacks had truly nailed their formula. They were, in many ways, the perfect rugby unit. Their group stage showdown with Japan showcased them playing the greatest offensive rugby of all-time. They scored 21 tries, breaking the tournament record before leaving the stadium with a 145-17 win. It was very clearly the stand-out singular performance of the tournament, even if South Africa ended up having their own insanely powerful display in the final. Sure, New Zealand didn’t take home the trophy this year, but this win showcased rugby played to absolute perfection.

#5: 49ers Execute Dominant Super Bowl Performance

This Super Bowl showdown between the 49ers and the Denver Broncos is one of those sporting milestones that will always be seen as important. Though predicted to be a tightly contested game, the end result was mainly one-way traffic. Joe Montana and the 49ers gave the Broncos a lesson in offensive potency and defensive solidity that left their opponents totally bereft of options. To this day, this is the gold standard for Super Bowl blowouts. When all was said and done, Montana and co. had stormed to a 55-10 victory, clearly proving that they were the dominant force in the NFL.

#4: Barcelona Complete the Remontada vs PSG

Overcoming a 4-0 deficit after a disastrous first-leg is going to be a tough task no matter who you’re playing. Doing it against the mighty Paris Saint-Germain, though? Yeah, this should have been impossible. Somehow, some way, despite the extremely long odds, Barcelona - led by Neymar and Lionel Messi - began to build momentum early. By the time the first half had ended, they had already scored twice. Even though PSG made things harder with a beautiful Edinson Cavani goal, Barca kept pushing, eventually winning the game 6-1 on the night and 6-5 on aggregate. The last minute from Sergi Roberto is one of the most thrilling pieces of late sporting drama you will ever see.

#3: The Most Dominant Game in NFL History

Right at the centre of this stunning 1940 performance was the T-formation offense of the Chicago Bears. They suffocated the Washington team from the first moment to the very last, painting a picture of dominance that has very few equals. The notion of winning by a margin of 73 to 0 in any game is impressive. To do so in a championship game is a different level of difficulty. In this game, the Bears gave us an insight into what the next decade of American football would look like. All these years later, people still point to it as one of the most remarkable drubbings of the 20th century in sports.

#2: Hungary Destroy West Germany 8-3

The Magic Magyars of Hungary were hitting a level of generational talent that the country had never seen before. Led by Ferenc Puskás, they met with West Germany in the World Cup group stages. Though on paper this one should have been close, in reality, it wasn’t. Hungary destroyed them 8-3 over the course of 90 minutes, showcasing a truly new level of superiority in world football. Sure, the Germans eventually got their revenge by defeating Hungary in the World Cup final in that same tournament. It’s a performance that has well and truly stood the test of time, though.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Brazil Announce Themselves vs Sweden

A Statement Victory Spearheaded by a 17-Year-Old Pelé

Rangers Deliver Record-Setting MLB Outburst

One of the Most Explosive Performances in MLB History

The All Blacks’ Modern Masterclass Finale

One of the Greatest Rugby World Cup Final Showings Ever

The Greatest Comeback Team Performance Ever

New England Came Together to Shock the Atlanta Falcons

#1: Germany Humiliates Brazil 7-1

For a country that has football in its DNA as much as Brazil does, there was something kind of bleak about watching Germany run rings around them in the World Cup semi-final of 2014. It’s not that Brazilians had an especially bad team on paper, or anything. The Germans were just locked into a totally different level - banging in goal after goal to eventually extend their lead to 7-1. This included a blistering run of five goals in just eighteen minutes. It wasn’t just a dominant win, it was a literal audit of every possible flaw in the Brazilian side’s structural makeup. Germany would use that momentum to defeat Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the final, capturing their first World Cup trophy since 1990.

Which team performance in one single game stands out in your memory? Let us know in the comments!